Appointment and Disappointment of British Special Envoy to Sri Lanka Brown left red-faced as Sri Lanka refuses his choice of envoy

This act proved that British have not yet recovered from symptoms of their pre-colonial psychological disorder and again try to impose their unethical imperial supremacy on former colonial states by unilateral judgments. The British Prime Minister’s unilateral appointment of so called special envoy to Sri Lanka is an insult to the people of Sri Lanka who enjoy the parliamentary democracy within the framework of free and fair elections over six decades.

@ Source Daily Mail UK and other agencies13th February 2009

Gordon Brown was at the centre of a humiliating diplomatic row last night after Sri Lanka rejected his decision to appoint a special envoy to the region. The island state's president described the appointment of former cabinet minister Des Browne as disrespectful and unhelpful. The rejection is hugely embarrassing for the Prime Minister and Mr Browne, who was handed the role as consolation for being removed from his job as Defence Secretary in the last reshuffle.

Mr Brown announced the role in front of MPs at the Liaison Committee on Thursday morning. He said Mr Browne would work on bringing an end to the Sri Lankan government's 30-year conflict with the separatist Tamil Tigers, which has led to a humanitarian crisis in the former colony.

The Sri Lankan government said Britain had not bothered consulting them about the appointment. President Mahinda Rajapaksa said it was tantamount to an 'intrusion of Sri Lanka's internal affairs'. Media minister Anura Yapa added: 'We are not a colony any more.' Foreign Secretary David Miliband rang his Sri Lankan opposite number to try to smooth over the row. A Downing Street spokesman also insisted that discussions were still taking place with Sri Lanka over Mr Browne's role.

He added that No 10 still hoped that Mr Browne could work with the Sri Lankans to secure a peace agreement and alleviate further suffering caused by the conflict. Whitehall insiders expressed bewilderment at the reaction. Sources insisted the president had known about Mr Browne's appointment and had approved it. One said: 'This is all about internal politics in Sri Lanka.'